Carbon footprints are the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by our actions, including surfing the web, traveling, and other mundane activities. For example, our daily commute burns fossil fuel, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Travel and transportation, whether by land, sea, or air, also result in carbon footprints.
Sustainable Travel International reported that tourism generates roughly 8% of the world’s carbon emissions. An increase in carbon footprint means a more drastic climate change. Now that traveling seems to be most people’s best way to destress, unwind, and relax, how do we reduce our carbon footprint?
Mode of transportation
When traveling, opt for transportation by land or sea rather than flying whenever possible. Aside from being hefty, plane tickets also contribute more to the carbon footprint than other modes of transportation. Packing lighter can also lessen the gas consumed and reduce the gas emitted by vehicles.
Eco-friendly accommodation
Commercial accommodation and other small business owners in the hotel industry are becoming more eco-friendly. Business owners are promoting and adapting practices that preserve nature, such as encouraging guests to reuse their towels if they don’t need to go to the laundry. Solar-powered accommodations are also starting to become available as well.
Plastic and other waste also release carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. Since traveling usually includes walking tours, bringing reusable water bottles and snack bags to reduce waste is better. When grocery shopping or buying souvenirs from travel, a tote bag or an eco bag can be the way to go to facilitate the use of plastics for consumables and necessities like food; try patronizing local products as they cost less to produce.
Causes and environmental activities
One can easily get carried away by all the tourist spots and destinations when traveling. Why not try local activities that support a cause, such as tree planting, clean-up initiatives, and Earth Hour marathons? This way, you will get some local flavor into your travels and be more informed about how to preserve the surroundings of the place you are visiting.
Today, some websites and apps allow users to estimate their carbon footprint. Of course, these are far from perfect, but knowing an estimate can help individuals be more mindful and change certain routines that contribute to the damage to our atmosphere.
Closing thoughts
Climate change has always been a serious problem that requires our utmost attention. Sudden changes and spikes in temperature worldwide indicate that our environment is deteriorating. With innovation and progress, we sometimes forget to care for the world we’re born into. Taking steps to help save our planet will result in a better quality of life and a greater future for future generations.
Photo Credit: The feature image is symbolic and has been done by Jan Vašek.
Sources: Sustainable Travel International / Statista
